This argument relies on [[equivocation]] between two meanings of ''[[theory]]'': in common parlance, a theory is an unsupported idea or a "hunch" &mdash; e.g., "I have a theory that restaurants make more money off of skinny customers." A scientist would call this a ''[[hypothesis]]'', or maybe a ''conjecture''.

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This argument relies on [[equivocation]] between two meaning of "[[theory]]": in common parlance, a theory is an unsupported idea or hunch, e.g., "I have a theory that restaurants make more money off of skinny customers." A scientist would call this a hypothesis or conjecture.

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A [[scientific theory]], on the other hand, is an explanation of some aspect of the real world that is ''well-supported by evidence''. At its core, ''theory'' really just means ''explanation''. A hypothesis may become a theory once it has been thoroughly tested through experimentation and has not been disproved, but it will never become a ''[[fact]]'', no matter how many tests it passes. The "fact" is the observed aspect of nature itself.

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A [[scientific theory]], on the other hand, is a well-supported body of explanations for some aspect of the real world. At its core, "theory" really means "explanation". A hypothesis may become a theory once it has been thoroughly tested through experiment and not been disproved, but will never become a "law" or a "fact", no matter how many tests it passes.

==Evolution is both a fact and a theory==

==Evolution is both a fact and a theory==

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Sometimes it is valid to call something both a fact ''and'' a theory. One example of this is [[wikipedia:gravity|gravity]]. This is the name given to the phenomenon whereby massive bodies are attracted to one other. For example, the [[moon]] and the [[Earth]] are attracted to each other, which is why they don't fly apart as they move through space. This phenomenon is a observed ''fact'': [[wikipedia:Henry Cavendish|Henry Cavendish]] actually measured the force of attraction between two lead spheres back in 1797. Different ''theories'' for why and how this phenomenon occurs have been put forth. [[Newton]]'s theory of gravitation (that it is a force acting instantaneously at a distance) was accepted for centuries until [[Einstein]]'s general [[theory of relativity]] completely changed our understanding of gravity (now considered a warping of space-time). In this sense, gravity is both a fact and a theory.

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Gravity is the force that pushes us toward the Earth. There are also theories of gravity that explain how and why things fall. In this sense, gravity is both a fact and a theory.

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The same can be said for [[evolution]]. If evolution is defined as "allele frequency change in a population over generations" (or, more simply, "populations change over time"), then it is an established fact; not even [[young-Earth creationist]]s can deny that this takes place. On the other hand, the ''theory of evolution'' is a scientific theory that ties together evidence of the types of changes that we see taking place in nature, as well as evidence from fossils, genes, proteins, and so on, to explain why and how evolution happens.

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Evolution, defined as "allele frequency change in a population over generations" (i.e., populations change over time) is an established fact. Not even [[Young earth creationist]]s deny that this takes place.

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[[Category:Science]]

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The Theory of Evolution, on the other hand, is a scientific theory that ties together and explains the types of evolution that we see going on, as well as evidence from fossils, genes, proteins, and so on.

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[[Category:Arguments]]

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Revision as of 12:18, 31 January 2007

This argument relies on equivocation between two meaning of "theory": in common parlance, a theory is an unsupported idea or hunch, e.g., "I have a theory that restaurants make more money off of skinny customers." A scientist would call this a hypothesis or conjecture.

A scientific theory, on the other hand, is a well-supported body of explanations for some aspect of the real world. At its core, "theory" really means "explanation". A hypothesis may become a theory once it has been thoroughly tested through experiment and not been disproved, but will never become a "law" or a "fact", no matter how many tests it passes.

Evolution is both a fact and a theory

Gravity is the force that pushes us toward the Earth. There are also theories of gravity that explain how and why things fall. In this sense, gravity is both a fact and a theory.

Evolution, defined as "allele frequency change in a population over generations" (i.e., populations change over time) is an established fact. Not even Young earth creationists deny that this takes place.

The Theory of Evolution, on the other hand, is a scientific theory that ties together and explains the types of evolution that we see going on, as well as evidence from fossils, genes, proteins, and so on.